ES1072489U - Tray holder (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Cup holder tray, which is formed by molding from a sheet of cardboard or plastic, forming housings for individual cups, and including bottom support legs for stabilization of the tray on a flat surface, and being provided on top of a flange flap upper, as well as grooves in the lateral surface of the housings to establish flaps of pressed on the glass, is characterized in that the flap of the upper flange corresponding to the tray is flat throughout its outline, presenting transversally an intermediate stiffening bridge that acts as separator of the receptacles for the vessels, provided that the bottom of each housing is affected by a stiffening rib that prevents bending of the vessels located in its housing, with the particular feature that the slot that establishes the flaps of pressed in each housing, presents its lower end below the edge upper part of the tray, and below the flaps themselves determined by the slot reach a level corresponding to the rigid part of the corresponding vessel positioned in the housing. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Cup tray.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a tray cup holder, whose obvious purpose is to allow transport specifically two glasses with drinks, stably and using a single hand grip of the tray itself. Too the tray can be realized to allow the transport of four glasses

The object of the invention is to hold by pressure two or four glasses on a tray, leaving those perfectly stabilized, forming a unique set with the tray itself so that with one hand the user can carry the glasses with the drinks, keeping the other hand free to enable your use for other needs.

Background of the invention

In certain hotel establishments, where fast food is usually served with drinks, there are usually trays that allow two vessels to be transported at the same time totally safe and with one hand, so that the user can with the other pick up or transport any other product, without risk of that the glasses and of course the contents of them fall or leak.

In this sense, different ones can be mentioned documents corresponding to patents of invention, such as the EP Patent 2443384, referring to a beverage holder constituted from of a plastic sheet with perimeter reinforced holes and with longitudinal ribs to stiffen the tray assembly, it is planned to be able to transport four glasses at the same time. This drink tray is used in combination with a system automatic dispensing that introduces the liquid into containers aligned on the support itself that constitutes the drink holder.

Also, in the document corresponding to Spanish utility model ES 1020175 U, a tray is described multipurpose that includes a laminar body with eight holes for others so many glasses of drinks, as well as with an opening for a napkin ring, areas of depression for vessels, where the holes they complement each other inferiorly with protruding parts that determine a kind of bowl or socket where it is positioned and remains Supported the corresponding glass.

WO 2006045329 describes a connectable food container, especially drinks, which characterized by including some receptacles, specifically two, for accommodate and retain two glasses, in whose receptacles they are located between a higher level and a lower level, existing means or connection elements designed to establish a support connection with a second drink holder or container.

The invention patent can also be cited US 6076876, which describes a beverage holder for two glasses, allowing to stably accommodate two glasses or cups, of any size, in the accommodations with which said effect has drink holder, the tray constituting an upper surface, with a flat edge that extends along the perimeter, and a lower surface, the tray stabilizing as far as stiffening refers to nerves that are also located between the accommodations for the glasses.

This drink holder or tray, provided specifically to transport two glasses stably, presents a series of problems and inconveniences such as the fact that the top flap, although it is said to be flat, however It has highlights that give rise to the stacking of trays occupy a remarkable height.

It is also planned that the bridge of stiffening established as a separator between the two housings For packaging, it presents a staggered and complex configuration structurally

Another drawback is that, considering that the glasses to which this type of tray is intended Drink holders are paper or plastic cups, very flexible, their support on the bottom of the accommodations and then pressing the lateral surface or wings that determine in those housings to hold the vessels, they can carry out the deterioration by pressure of such vessels, with their corresponding deformation by flexion thereof, regardless of that cross stiffening bridge provided in that patent US 6076876, due to its configuration, no Provides sufficient rigidity to the tray.

Under the highlights that the upper flat edge of the tray, the height of the tray is visible increased, without this implying any advantage in regard to the effort of subjection of the glasses.

Similarly, the complex and special configuration which has the transverse and intermediate stiffening bridge, gives place where the housing for the containers are remarkably distanced from each other, which results in the conformation of the tray requires more material for molding.

Finally, to say that in that patent of invention US 6076876, the flexible fins that determine the pressing and therefore the holding of the vessels, are made such that the groove that delimits the pressure fins reaches the upper part, and without However, the lower part does not reach what is considered as a rigid part of the paper or plastic cup, so that the cup holder corresponding to that patent of invention does not fulfill the same effect of the effect of pressing and holding the glasses when the diameter of these is varied
ble.

Description of the invention

The recommended cup holder has been conceived to solve the problem described above, of such way that being based on the drink holder for two glasses object of the invention patent US 6076876 referred to in the section previous, it presents a series of particularities of which derive improvements and new features in the functionality of the tray.

A first feature of novelty is that the flap corresponding to the upper edge of the tray is flat in all its contour, without protrusions anywhere, so that this first feature allows stacking more trays in the same space, as far as height is concerned.

A second feature of novelty is that the distancing for accommodation between the corresponding vessels and therefore the distance between them, is less than occurs in that patent referred to above, and this as consequence of the intermediate stiffening bridge and transversal is simple and is connected between both zones of vessel housing, thus providing high rigidity.

Another feature of novelty is that the background of the accommodation for the vessels is affected by a nerve that extends between accommodation and accommodation, which provides a greater rigidity and prevents bending of the vessels.

It is also planned as a feature of Novelty the fact that the groove that gives rise to the flaps of pressure on the vessel to hold it, ends superiorly before reaching the upper edge, while for the lower part of the pressure flaps are adjusted until the rigid part of the corresponding vessel, which allows the vessels small diameter be pressed with greater force for your clamping and those of smaller diameter are pressed with less force, to achieve high flexibility of the flaps of held down.

Although the tray of the invention is materialized to be able to transport two vessels, however it can materialize as a double body and allow the transport of four glasses, without changing the basic characteristics of the tray.

It is also planned that the tray can be used for other types of vessels other than vessels.

In addition to the features and advantages referred to, it should be noted that obtaining by molding the tray requires less material than conventionally required, by have a smaller transverse width in coincidence with the intermediate reinforcement bridge.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that then it will be done and in order to help a better understanding of the features of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical realization thereof, is accompanied as an integral part of that description, a set of drawings in where illustrative and not limiting, it has been represented the next:

Figure 1.- Shows a representation according to a general perspective view of the tray holder object of the invention, for two glasses.

Figure 2.- Shows an alternative of realization of the tray, planned in this case to transport four glasses

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

As you can see in figure 1, the tray the invention is intended to hold and transport with safety a couple of glasses of drinks, for which said tray it is constituted from the molding of a laminar body that can be cardboard or plastic, and in which a couple of housings or alveoli (1) for the vessels, presenting superiorly a flange with flat perimeter flap (2), without projections by nowhere in regards to the upper plane of the flap or flange (2), while internally, between housings (1) for the vessels, a bridge is planned cross stiffening (3), with a simple configuration and establishing a minimum distance between these housings (1) and therefore of the vessels, in order to achieve a reduction of material in achieving the tray in question.

The bottom of the housings (1) for the glasses it is equipped with a nerve (4) that provides rigidity to the housings (1) and therefore greater stability for the vessels located in those accommodations.

The subjection of the glasses themselves, in each case, it is carried out by means of pressure flaps (5) formed as consequence of grooves (6) established on the surface internal side of the tray, in correspondence with the area of the housings (1), the groove (6) in each case being slightly separated from the upper edge, that is, it does not reach the part top, as clearly seen in the figure, while inferiorly it extends to the area where it will put pressure on the rigid part of the glass, since it must be taken into account that this will be of thin paper or plastic, and therefore easily deformable when under pressure.

The longitudinal sides have been planned two depressions (7), among which precisely the cross stiffening bridge (3), projecting down to form, together with lower extensions (8), corresponding support legs to keep the tray stable supported on a horizontal surface such as a counter, a table, etc.

As previously stated, the referred features for the tray described, make it to be top flange or flap (2) completely flat, stacking between trays is favored, being able to stack more trays in the same space, because that flange or flap is exempt upper (2) of flanges or projections.

Also, the bridge (3) provides rigidity to the tray, while the rib (4) of the housings (1) for the vessels, provides rigidity that prevents bending of the vessels.

On the other hand, the tray will have a lower height than the conventional one, providing the same effort of subjection.

Also noteworthy is the material savings (carón or plastic), in which the tray was molded, when presenting this a smaller width than the conventional one.

In a variant embodiment shown in the Figure 2, the tray has four cells or housings (1) to allow the transport of four glasses, keeping the tray the same characteristics as those referred to for tray two glasses shown in figure 1.

Finally say that under the slot pressure (6) does not reach the top and that the flaps (5) originated by said slot, which must act as elements of pressure on the vessels, and they extend inferiorly until reach what is the area or rigid part of the vessel, it is possible get more pressure on small diameter vessels and more flexibility in large diameter vessels.

Claims (3)

1. Cup holder tray, which is formed by molding from a sheet of cardboard or plastic, forming accommodation for two glasses, and including lower support legs for stabilization of the tray on a flat surface, and being provided with a flange flap upper, as well as grooves in the lateral surface of the housings to establish pressure flaps on the vessel, it is characterized in that the flap of the upper flange corresponding to the tray is flat in all its contour, presenting transversely an intermediate stiffening bridge that acts as separator of the housings for the vessels, having provided that the bottom of each housing is affected by a stiffening rib that prevents the bending of the vessels located in its housing, with the particularity in addition to the groove establishing the pressing flaps in Each housing has its lower end below the edge upper of the tray, and inferiorly the own flaps determined by the groove reach a level that corresponds to the rigid part of the corresponding vessel positioned in the housing. 2. Cup holder tray according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes two housings for transporting a pair of vessels. 3. Cup holder tray according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes four housings for transporting two pairs of vessels.